Did you know that you can actually lose weight faster by cheating on your diet? It’s true! Cheating helps people lose weight by manipulating a very powerful hormone called leptin. Also known as the “anti-starvation” hormone, leptin fluctuates with calorie intake. Low levels of this hormone signal to the brain that you’re not eating enough (causing the body to preserve fat as a starvation protection mechanism), while normal-to-high leptin levels signal that it’s OK for the body to use fat as an energy source because food intake is adequate. But leptin levels plummet when a person diets (by about 50% after only one week), which in turn slows the rate of fat loss. However, it only takes one day of “splurging” to bring levels of this fat-burning hormone back to baseline.

So next time you’re thinking about avoiding that piece of chocolate cake, remember today’s tip: Each week, take one day off from your diet to enjoy your favorite foods. Believe me, your body, mind and ever-shrinking waistline will thank you for it!